§ Sir H. d'Avigdor-Goldsmidasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further grant it is proposed to make towards the Atlas computer purchased by London University in 1961; what reduction in the amount of computer 286W time available for academic purposes the university has had to make; and by what date the university hopes to repay the existing capital debt, on the assumption that no further grant is made by the Government towards the cost of Atlas.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsIt is not proposed to make any further grant towards this computer. The original Exchequer contribution was designed to secure 25 per cent. of the available time for academic use, the rest being available to B.P. Limited in proportion to their capital contribution or for sale to provide income to service a capital loan privately raised by the company formed to operate the computer. This remains the position, and although until recently a greater proportion of computer time has been available for academic use I understand that it will be reduced to 25 per cent. as the University's computer operating company expands its commercial sales. The question of how soon the capital debt will be repaid is a matter for the computer operating company.
The provision of further computer capacity for London University is under consideration by the Computer Board. New machines have already been authorised for installation in University College and Queen Mary College.